Final two innings hurt 9/10 All-Stars

It was still a ballgame in the late going Sunday, but then it all broke loose over the final two innings of the Laguna Beach 9/10 year-old All-Stars’ District 55 All-Star Tournament debut against Aliso Viejo at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel.

Aliso Viejo scored eight runs over the last two innings to put the game out of reach, a 12-0 final that forced Laguna into an elimination game Tuesday against Rancho Niguel. But a win Tuesday would advance Laguna to another elimination game at 7:30 p.m. today against Lake Forest American.

The score of Tuesday’s game wasn’t available at press time.

On Monday, Alsio Niguel won its second tournament game, 10-6 over Newport Beach American.

That 12-0 score Sunday, Laguna Manager Kent Chesley said, wasn’t reflective of the game.

“It was closer than the final score indicates,” he said. “We were down but playing well, but then it all fell apart for us in the fifth inning. That’s when the wheels began to come off the bus, and we never recovered.”

Starting pitcher Ren Kramer pitched four strong innings for Laguna, allowing just two earned runs to go along with five strikeouts.

What didn’t help matters is that Aliso Viejo also was the recipient of two unearned runs that led to a 4-0 lead through four innings.

What’s more, Laguna’s offense basically was silent, save for hits by Will McInerny and Nathan Sweet.

Laguna used four more pitchers after Kramer left the mound.

“I thought Ren did a great job,” Chesley said. “He kept us in the game.

“It was a tough way to open this tournament but I thought our guys put forth a great effort for four innings. “But I tip my hat to Aliso Viejo. We probably opened the tournament against the best team, and we competed with them for much of the game.”

9/10 Year-Old All-Stars: Andres DeLaRosa; Jacob Flaxman; Jake Smith; Ren Kramer; Will McInerny; Nathan Sweet; Andrew Kimball; Jordan Watkins; Michael Shurtleff, Jack Wyett, Ethan Chesley, Brett Tracy, Connor Hayes, Greyson Benson, Trent Sorenson, Manager Kent Chesley, Coach Steve Sweet.